Butterfly blood, more accurately called hemolymph, is typically greenish or yellowish in color.
Many people mistake the reddish fluid expelled by butterflies, especially when they emerge from their chrysalis, for blood. This red fluid is called meconium. It consists of metabolic waste products accumulated during the pupal stage and isn't blood. The butterfly needs to expel this to lighten its load for flight and to help harden and expand its wings.
Here's a breakdown:
- Hemolymph Color: Greenish or Yellowish
- Meconium Color: Reddish
The hemolymph's color is due to the presence of hemocyanin, a copper-containing protein used for oxygen transport in some insects, rather than hemoglobin, which uses iron and gives vertebrate blood its red color. Butterflies, like other insects, don't use hemoglobin.
In summary, while a butterfly might expel reddish fluid (meconium), its actual blood (hemolymph) is typically greenish or yellowish.
